Yarn changer



w. LARKlN YARN CHANGER Filed July 51', 1940 Feb. .18, 1941.

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YARN CHANGER Filed July 51, 1940 l8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 18, 1941. I ARKIN YARN CHANGER Filed July 31, 1940 2974 0f.

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YARN HHHH ER Filed July 51, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Feb. 18, 19.41.. W. L RKlN 2,232,616

' YARN CHANGER i Filed July 31, 1940 e sheets-sheet` 'f vFel. 11s,V 1941.

W. LARKI N -YARN CHANGER Filed July 3l, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 myd/M Patented Feb. 18, 1941 PATENT GFFICE- 2,232,616 YARN CHANGER Walter Larkin, Norristown, Pa., assigner to Fidelity Machine Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporation ofDelaware Application July 31, 1940, Serial No. 348,901

29 Claims.

This invention relates to a yarn selecting device of the type disclosed in my prior United States `Letters Patent No. 1,624,792, dated April 12, 1927, and No. 1,726,396, dated August 27, 1929.

In the devices of the two patents noted above, and in the present device, one yarn is selected from a group and tied end to end to another yarn of the group which at the time of the new selection is running freely from `a cone, bobbin, or other yarn package to the needles of a knitting machine, or to any other apparatus to which the selecting device is attached and in which the various yarns of the group are utilized.

As the knot between the running yarn and the newly selected yarn is tied, the running yarn is severed at the knot. The newly selected yarn becomes the running yarn and passes freely to the needles etc., until the next yarn selection. As the knotting operation is being completed, and the previous running yarn is severed at the knot,

CTA

the free end of the former running yarn is gripped,

and held in position for subsequent selection of that particular yarn, and the previously gripped end of the newly selected yarn is released, in order that the newly selected yarn may supplant the running yarn and pass freely from its supply package to the apparatus to which the device is attached. 'f

In the devices of the prior patents noted above, each yarn of the group was controlled by a separate rockable finger having Van eye in its outer free end through which the yarn passed in going from its supply package to the clamp by which the ends of the idle yarns were gripped, or to the needles of the knitting machine in the case l .40 shaped collecting lever rocking in a plane at right angles to the parallel planes of the respective vselector lingers. The yoke-shaped end of the collecting lever picked up the selected yarn and also the running yarn* and carried the two to the beak and pinchers of the knotting device. Here the two were tied together and the severed end of the running yarn placed in the clamp while the clamped end of the selected yarn was released therefrom. The selectornger and the collecting lever then returned to their normal positions respectively, leaving the newly selected yarn running to the needles of the knitting machine through the eye of its control finger.

More recent developments in the knittingarts have necessitated speeding up the knitting-ma- (Cl. (i6-144) chine. This, in turn, necessitated quicker action -cf the yarn selecting device, including the collecting lever. As a result of the high speed operation, the collector lever had a tendency, at times,

to throw the yarns out of the open yoke end there- 3 5 of. Thus, the two yarns would not be properly presented to the knotter, which caused the operation of the knitting machine to be interrupted by `the stop motion, when the two yarns separated at the defective knot resulting from theflO improper presentation of the yarns to the knotter.

The present invention resides in a new and improved structure by which the aforesaid high speed difliculties are eifectively avoided. In the improved selector device the separate collector-15 lever is eliminated andthe mechanism reorganized insuch a manner that each yarn-control lever maintains complete control of its own par- `ticular yarn at all times and functions additionally to pick up the running' yarn and carry it'and 20 the `newly selected yarn to the knotter;

Other features of the new structure reside in its'relative simplicity and positive positioning of the yarns at the clamp and at the knotter, as will be fully disclosed hereinafter, reference being had (f 25 to the accompanying drawings of which:` Figs. l and la constitute an elevation of one side of the improved yarn selector;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the opposite side o the device; 53,0

' Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the device;

Fig. `l is a plan View of the assembled device;

Fig. 5 is a plan view with certain upper parts removed;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, sectional "elevation of the; 35 knotter, as taken on the line 6 6, Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view, partly in section, showing the operating mechanism for the ind"- vidual yarn control ngers;

Figl 8 is a detailed perspective View of thein-i 40 dividual yarn control fingers and the mounting therefor; v p

Fig. 9 is a detached perspective View of the iinger locking mechanism; n

Fig. 10 is a sectional View illustrating the ngeri operating gearing, as taken on the line Iii-HL Fig- 7;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view illustrating the normal positions of the various parts, While one of y the yarns is'running freely to the needles of the" knitting machine to which the device is attached;

Fig. 12 shows the relative positions of the parts after a selection has been made and the yarn control nger for the selected yarn has moved the selected yarn and the running yarn into the throat of the knotter;

Fig. 13 is a perspective View showing the beak of the knotter starting to tie a knot to secure the newly selected yarn to the running yarn;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view showing the beak of the knotter about to close to complete the knot and the open shears ready to sever the running yarn adjacent the knot;

Fig. 15 is a plan view, partly in section, showing the shears in full lines in the position corresponding to that of Fig. 14 and in broken lines after the shearing has been effected;

Fig. 16 is a plan View, partly in section, of the main clamp and a temporary clamp employed in connection therewith during the yarn knotting operation;

Fig, 17 is a plan View partly in section of a yarn pincher employed in addition to the clamps of Fig. 16, during the knot-tying operation;

Fig. 18 is a plan view partly in section of the certain parts of the knotting pincher of Fig. 17;

Figs. 19, 20 and 21 are perspective views cf the parts of the knotting pincher of Figs. 17 and 18;

Figs, 22, 23, 24 and 25 are detached perspective views of the various parts of the main clamp;

Fig. 26 is a perspective View of the temporary clamp; and

Fig. 27 is a side view of a detail of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8, the present device comprises a plurality or group of yarn control ngers A, of which there may be any desired number depending upon the use for which the device is designed. In the present illustration, there are ve yarn-control ngers, indicated at I, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively, to provide what is known in the art as a ve-color striping attachment for use with a circular knitting machine of the kind disclosed in the aforesaid prior patents, which show a fourcolor striper.

As shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 10, each of the yarn-control ngers of the group A includes a disc-like hub portion 6 and an arcuate arm portion 1 formed integral therewith. At the rear of each finger, where the arm portion joins the hub portion, is a concave recess 8, for purposes hereinafter described. Each finger is preferably punched from flat sheet metal, although die or other light castings may be used.

The free end of each linger, i. e., the end opposite to the hub disc 6, is bent into a plane at 90 to that of the disc 6, as indicated at 9. The transversely extending terminal edge of the twisted head 9, in each instance, is provided with a collector notch I0 (see Fig. 1 particularly). Immediately behind and substantially aligned with the notch I0, each finger is provided with a yarn guide eye I I for passage therethrough of the particular yarn which is to be controlled by the particular finger in which the eye is formed.

Intermediate the hub disc 6 and the head 9 of each nger, a barb-like projection I2 is bent laterally out of the plane of the main arm and disc portions of the finger, to form an open yarn-guiding notch I3 for the yarn controlled by the nger (see Fig. 12).

In each instance, as shown in Fig. 8, a partial gear I4 is secured, as by rivets I5 (see Fig. 10), to and against one side of the hub disc S, with the teeth of the gear exposed in the concave recess 8. Each gear I4 and its associated hub disc 6 are bored and bushed to receive and to rock freely on a common pivot rod IS, upon which the entire group A of ngers I, 2, 3, 4 and 5 are mounted in closely laterally abutting relation to each other.

Secured to the extreme outer end of the pivot rod or stud I6 is a yarn guide bracket I'I having a portion I8 extending parallel to the common normal plane of the heads 9, 9 of the fingers of the group A, with eyes I9, I 9 of said bracket (see Fig. 1) respectively aligned with the eyes Il, Il of said heads 9.

The various yarns a, b, c, d and e (see Fig. 11), pass from suitable supply packages, not shown, through the eyes I9 in the guide bracket II, to and through the eyes I I in the control fingers I, 2, etc. to the main clamp B and temporary clamp C or to the running eye E, as the case may be.

The gears I4, I4 of the control ngers I, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively, are adapted to be selectively brought into operating alignment with an operating gear 20 (see Figs. 5, 7 and 10), which is secured to one end of a sleeve shaft 2l. 'Ihe sleeve shaft 2I is rotatably mounted on a horizontal stud 22, fixed in and extending laterally from one side of a vertical portion 23 of the main frame F of the device,

The opposite end of the sleeve shaft 2| is provided with a gear 24, fixed thereto, which meshes with a gear 25. The gear 25 is secured to one end of a shaft 26 which is rotatably mounted in the frame F. The gear 25 has one set of teeth 25a; formed on one pitch circle, for meshing with the teeth of the gear 24, and a second set of teeth 25h formed on a different pitch circle and which are adapted to mesh with the teeth of a vertical gear rack 21 (see Fig. 3).

'I'he gear rack 21 is vertically slidably mounted in a guideway 28 formed in the vertical part 23 of the frame F, so that, upon vertical movement of the rack 21 one of the fingers I, 2, 3, 4 or 5, as the case may be, depending upon the selection made by the pattern mechanism of the machine to which the device is secured, will be operated, through the gears 25, 24, 26 and I4, to swing the finger of the selected yarn from its normal position shown in Fig. 11 to its operating position shown in Fig. 12.

The finger to be operated is selected by sliding the whole group A bodily, laterally to the right as viewed in Fig. 5, to bring the gears I4, I4 of the fingers I, 2, 3, 4 and 5 successively into operating alignment with the operating gear 20.

The gear I4 of the nger I, controlling the yarn a is normally in operating alignment and intermeshing with the operating gear 2i), while the teeth of the gears I4 of the other iingers are normally in interineshing engagement with the teeth of a fixed locking gear member 36 in the form of a gear rack or gear segment (see Fig. 9), which keeps these fingers from rotating, normally.

As the group A of control fingers slides along horizontally during the selecting operation, the teeth of the gears I4 slide along the teeth of the xed gear member 3i), from one side of the operating gear 20, into mesh with the teeth of the operating gear 2U and from there into relocking engagement with the teeth of an additional fixed gear member 3| disposed at the opposite side of the operating gear 20, until the selection is made by the group A stopping with the gear I4 of the selected finger in operating alignment with the gear 20.

`to provide continuous surfaces against which the `teeth of the gears I4, I4 rest during the sliding lICI The locking gear membersY 30 and V3l are formed on or carried by `a commonelement 32 which is provided withV a rearwardly extending ,i lug 33 bored at 34 to fit the fixed stud 22 to which the locking element 32 is secured by set screw 35. As shown in Fig. 9 the looking element 32 is provided with a recess 36 into Which the operating gear 20 projects. The teeth of the gear members 34 and 3l of the locking element 32 are preferably formed on a pitch circle corresponding to that of the operatinggear 2i), and, during the selecting operation, certain of the teeth `of the operating gear 20 are in alignment with one or more of the teeth of each of the gear members 30 and 3l and combine therewith motion of the group of lingers A. Accurate alignment of the teeth of the actuatinggear 2l) 'with the teeth 'of the locking members 3l) and 3| is afforded by a lug 21a on the rack 21 engaging a stop 23a on the vertical portion 23 of the frame F. The concave `recesses B in the hub discs 6 of the fingers I, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively provide the necessary clearance for the teeth of the gear 24 and locking members 35 and 3i during the sliding ofthe group of lingers A relative thereto.

In order to effect. the sliding selecting movement of the group of ngers A, the stud' I5 on which said lingers of the group A are pivotally mounted constitutes an axial extension of a slide bar 4l), which is slidably mounted in the framework F. At the end opposite the group of lingers A, `the slide bar 4l! is provided with a lateral extension 4I. The outer end of the extension 4I is provided With a pin 42 (see Figs. l and 5) which slides in a slot 43 formed in a guide plate 44 secured to the frame F.

The pin 42 projects into a cam slot 45 formed in a cam plate 46 which is pivoted on a bolt 4l tapped into the vertical portion 43 of the frame F. The cam plate 46 is provided with a hub 43 around which is coiled a spring 49. One end of the spring 49 engages a4 lug 5E! on the cam plate 46 While the second end of the spring is anchored in a flange 5I formed on or keyed to the pivot bolt 41. The spring 49 at all times tends to turn the cam plate 45 in the direction `of the arrow z, Fig. 1, to slide the bar 4@ and the group of lingers A to the left, as shown in said figure, until the gear I4 associated With the finger I is in operating alignment with the operating gear 2i?.

The cam plate 45 is rotated in the opposite direction by the pattern mechanism of the knitting machina'for example, to which the device is attached, said pattern mechanism being clearly illustrated and described in the aforesaid prior patents. The pattern mechanism includes a pattern chain having links of various heights, a dilerent height for each of the five ngers in the present instance. 'The pattern links are brought to bear against a lever 'which is connected by a link 5,2 to a lever 53, which, in the present instance, is pivotally mounted at 54 to a Xed partof the machine or to an extension Aof the frame F. The lever 53 is connected by a link 55 to a stud 56 axially aligned with' and projecting outwardly from the end of the lug 5l] on the cam plate` 4B.

As the link 52 is moved in the direction of the arrow y, Fig. l, by one of the links of the pattern chain previously noted, the lever 53 is rocked about its pivot 54 and, through the link k55, rocks the camplate 45 about its pivot4l,

thereby causing the cam slot 45 to moverelative to thepin 42 on'the slide bar. 40, which in turn effects sliding motion oi the bar 45 and the group of `iingers A carredlthereby until the selected iinger is in alignment with the operating gear 20.

As shown in Fig. l the cam groove 45 is arranged in ve' steps, indicatedV at 45a, 45h, 45e, 45d and 45e at successively greater distances from the center of the bolt 41 about which the cam plate 45 revolves, and progressively circumferentially of the cam plate, the steps 45a, b, c, etc., corresponding to the fingers I, 2, 3, 4 and 5 which vcontrol the threads or yarns a, b, c, d and e respectively.

Rockably mounted on the pivot stud 54 is a` lever 55 to which is connected one end of a reach rod 6I having an eccentric strap 52 secured to its opposite end. The eccentric strap 62 encircles an eccentric 53 which is secured to a constantly rotating shaft 54 and by which the lever 60 is constantly oscillated on the stud 54. Loosely mounted on the stud 54 is a lever 55 which is connected by a link 55 to the lower end of the operating rack 2l'. Pivoted at 51 to the lever 55 is a pawl 6B, the tip of which normally bears against an elevated surface 55 of a hold-out cam l0. The hold-out cam 'F3 is rockably mounted on the stud 54 and is provided with an arm 'II which is connected at 'I2 to one end of a link The opposite end rof the link 'i3 is connected at I4 to the cam plate 45.,

When thecam plate 4t is rocked about its pivot, in making a selection as previously noted, it rocks the hold-cut cam 'Iii about the pivot st'ud 54, moving the elevated portion 65 of the cam `'i5 from beneath the tip of the pawl 65, whereby the tip of the pawl 58, under the influence of a spring l5, rides down onto a lower `portion 'I5 of the cam 'le into the path of a shoulder 'I1 formed on the outer end of a lever 'i3 which is secured to the lever 55 and is constantly rocked therewith about the pivot stud 54 by the eccentric 63 through the eccentric strap 52 and reach rod 6 I.

With the tip of the pawl 58 lying in the path of movement of the `shoulder ll on the lever i8, `when the lever 'i8 rocks in the direction of the arrow the shoulder 'il' engages the pawl 58 and rocks the lever 65 about the pivot stud E14.` Rocking of the vlever 55 in 'this manner causes a vertical movement of the gear rack 21, through the link 55. The rack 2l, being in engagement with the gear 25, rotates said gear aboutthe stud 25. The gear 24, being in mesh with the gear 25, is consequently rotated and through the sleeve shaft 2i rotates the operating `gear 25 and consequently the gear I4 of the yarn control nger which has been selectively moved into operating alignment with the gear 25. The selected iinger is consequently rocked about the pivot I5 from the normal position shown in Fig. 1l. tothe operative position shown in Figi 12.

As the selected finger rocks in the manner noted, it carries the selected yarn controlled thereby upwardly, drawing the selected thread through the guide eyev I9 in the guide bracket I'I and thereby elongating the portion al, bil, cI dI, el, as the case be, which extends from the eve IQ in the guide bracket I'I to the eye II in the end of the selected control. ringer. During the rocking movement of the selected finger the prong or barb I2 intermediate the opposite ends thereof engages the elongated portion of the selected yarn, as indicated at cIr in Fig. l2, and

maintains said portion of the yarn in a predetermined position for purposes hereinafter noted.

As shown in Fig. 11 the free end portions a2, b2, c2, d2, e2 of the yarns a, b, c, d, and e respectively which are idle, project from the guide eyes in the yarn control fingers to the main clamp B. As shown in Figs. 22, 23, 24 and 25 the main clamp B comprises plates 80, 8|, 82 and 83 respectively which are arranged in superposed relation to each other with the plate- 80 lowermost, as shown in Fig. 6. The uppermost plate 83 is provided with an elongated slot 84 for the reception of a correspondingly shaped projection on the lower end of the vertical shaft 88 of the knotting device K.

A relatively thick circular disc 81 is secured rrnly to and in contact with the lower surface of the projection 85 and the under-surface of the plate 83 by a screw 88, tapped into the lower end of the shaft 86. Each of the plates 80, 8| and 82 is provided with circular opening 89 through which the disc 8T projects. A starshaped con-cavo-convex spring bearing against the under surface `of the plates 8| maintains the plates 80, 8|, 82 and 83 in firm but resilient contact one with the other.

As shown in Fig. 16, screws or pins 9|, 9|, secured in and projecting downwardly from a horizontal plate portion 92 of the frame F, project through openings 93 and 94 in the plates 80 and 82 respectively, to prevent said plates 80 and 82 from rotating with the plate 83 when the shaft 88 of the knotter K is turned ln a manner hereinafter noted.

A pin is secured to the plate 83 and projects downwardly therefrom through arcuate slots 96, 91 and 98 in the plates 80, 8| and 82 respectively.

The slot 91 in the plate 8| is relatively short but of greater length than the diameter of the pin 95, and the ends 91a and 91h of said slot are alternately engaged by the pin 95 after the plate 83 rotates through a small portion of its complete oscillatory motion in clamping and releasing the free ends of the various yarns in the manner hereinafter described.

The main fixed clamp plate 80 is provided with a yarn channel 99 through which the free ends of the idle yarns extend upwardly. Adjacent the terminal end of the yarn channel 99 the upper surface of the xed clamp plate 80 is provided with serrations |00. The edges |0|, |02 at the opposite end of the channel 99 flare outwardly to receive the yarns, and a shoulder |03 is formed at the mouth to prevent the yarns from being forced out of the channel 99 under circumstances hereinafter noted.

`The main rotary clamp plate 8| is provided with a hook-like projection |04, which, as the plate 8| rocks in one direction about the axis of the shaft 88, sweeps along and above the channel 99 and engages the threads projecting upwardly therethrough. The forward edge |05 of the hook |04 carries the threads across the serrations |00, whereby the ends of the idle threads are firmly gripped between the serrations |00 on the fixed plate 80 and the movable plate 8|.

The upper fixed plate 82 is provided with a hook-shaped arm |06 between the inner curved edge |07 of which, and the opposite curved edge |08 of the main body of the plate 82, a yarn channel |09 is formed with a shoulder |0 at the open flaring mouth of the channel.

The upper movable plate 83 is provided with a hook I2, similar to the hook |04 of the lower movable clamp plate 8|, with a yarn engaging edge ||3 thereon.

The temporary clamp C, shown detached in Fig. 26, includes a main xed plate ||5, which lies below the fixed plate 80 of the main clamp B 5 (see Fig. 6) and is provided with an opening ||6 for reception of a reduced boss on the thick disc 8T; and a second opening for reception of the screw 9| by which the plates 80, 82 and ||5 are held against rotation about the axis of the knotter shaft 86.

The head |9 of the screw 88 retains the plate ||5 against dropping and the star spring resting on the plate l5 presses the plates 80, 8| and 82 upwardly into resilient contact with each other and with the top plate 83 of the main clamp B.

The fixed plate ||5 is provided with an arm ||8 havingan upstanding projection ||9 adjacent the outer end thereof (see Fig. 26) Pivotally mounted on a pin |20 secured in and projecting vertically from the arm ||8, is a lever |2| which forms the movable element of the temporary clamp C.

The clamp C has a yarn channel |22 formed therein between one edge |23 of the lever |22 and an upturned flange |24 formed on an adjacent opposite edge of the fixed plate ||5. The channel |22 has an outwardly flaring mouth formed between the angular edge |25 of the lever |2| and the angular edge |28 of the plate The various threads are adapted to be ternporarily gripped during the knotting operation between the edge |23 of the lever |2| and the flange |24 of the plate ||5 by rotation of the lever |2| in one direction under the influence of a spring |28 encircling the pin |20, with one end resting against the projection ||9 on the plate H5, and the other end engaging a U-shaped part of the lever |2|.

The lever |2| has an extension |2`| overlying the plate I5 behindI the flange |24, which, under circumstances hereinafter noted, is engaged by the pin 95 of the main clamp plate 83 which rocks the lever |2| in a direction opposite to the influence of the spring |28, torelease the yarns from between the edge |23 and flange |24.

As shown in Fig. 16, the yarn channels 99, |09 and |22 lie in vertical alignment with the shoulders |03 and ||0 and the flaring edges |0I,

and |25 substantially coinciding with each other.

The knotter K (see Figs. 6, and 17 to 21 inelusive) includes a housing |30 which is secured to the horizontal plate portion 92 of the frame F. The housing |30 comprises bearings |3| and |32 for the vertical shaft 89, and bearings |33 and |34 for the horizontal beak shaft |35 of the knotter which extends through a transverse opening |36 in the shaft 88, so that the axes of the shafts 89 and |35 can intersect in a common plane at right angles to each other.

Secured to the knotter shaft 88 is a gear |31 which meshes with a pinion |38 on one end of the beak shaft |35. The opposite end of the shaft |35 is shaped to form the fixed jaw |39 `of the beak |40. The xed jaw |40 is bifurcated to receive the movable jaw |4| which is pivoted at |42 to the fixed jaw.

The movable jaw |4| is provided with a heel |43 and a toe |44 which ride a cam surface |45 formed on the outer end of the bearing |33 to open and close the beak |40 as it is rotated about the axis of its operating shaft |35.

Above the beak |40, the knotter K includes a -gripper or pincher |50, which is composed of a pair of blades I and |52 (see Fig. 20) which are apertured at |53 to fit the shaft 86 and by which these blades are held `against radial movement while permitting oscillatory movement about the axis of the shaft 86.

Intermediate the radially fixed blades I5I, |52

the pincher |50 is provided with a radially movable blade |54 (see Fig. 2i) whichis slotted longitudinally at |54a to receive the shaft 86. The blades I5I, |52 and |54 are maintained in parallel relatively slidable relation to each other by a pair of parallel arms |55, |55 having depending ends I56, |55 (see Fig. 19), with a slot |51 therebetween; said depending ends being shouldered at |56 to bear against the upper blade I5I to prevent upward movement thereof,` downward movement being prevented by the lower blade |52 resting on the top of the body portion |59 of the gear |31 (see Fig. 6).

The guide arms |55, |55 are integrally formed with a hub |60 having a bore |6| t0 t and rotate about the exterior surface of the upperrbearing |32 for the knotter shaft 86.

Theblades I5I and |52 are transversely slotted to form a yarn channel |62 and the outer end |63 o-f the blade |54 is adapted to cooperate with the edges |64, |64 of the channel |62 to pinch the running yarn and the-newly selected yarn therebetween during the knotting operation, as hereinafter described.

` The blade |54 is provided with an upstanding l pin |541) (see Fig. 21) which operates in a cam slot |66 formed in a cam plate |61 secured to the frame |30 of the knotting device K (see Fig. 6).

Secured to the top of the frame |30 at |68, is a cam plate |69 which is provided with a cam slot |y (see Fig. 18). A pin |1| secured to one end of a lever |12 operates in the cam slot |10. The lever |12 is provided with a second pin |13 which operates in the `slot |51 between the guide arms |55, |55 of the pincher |50 (see Fig. 17). Intermediate the pins |1| and |13, the lever |12 is pivoted at |14 to the operating lever' |15 for the knotter shaft 36 (see Fig. 4), and in which the running eye E is also formed. i y

The cam slot |10 vis so formed that, as the lever is rocked in one direction, the pivot |14 for the lever |12 is carried along on a predetermined arc about the axis of the knotter 86. The lever |12 is correspondingly moved and the pin III traverses the cam slot |16. The pin |13 on the lever |12 riding in the forked guide lever |55, |55 of the pincher |50-r0tates the pincher bodily about the axis of the shaft 86, until the pin I1I rides into a dwell portion |16 of the cam slot |10. This causes the pincher to stop momentarily as the beak |46 of the knotter rotates and effects the tying of a knot between the running yarn and the newly selectedyarn, after which the pincher continues on its circular movemen-t relative to the beak of the knotter to pull the' knot tight, as a result of the involved yarns being held tightly at one side of the knot by the beak |40 at the opposite side of the knot by the pincher |50.

` It will be understood that the above action takes place after the running yarn and the newly selected yarn have been placed in the beak |40 and in the channel |62 of the pincher; and that the movable blade |54 of the pincher has advanced radially to pinch these yarns against the edges |64, |64 of the blades |5I and |52 rening in the cam slot |86.` l

yarn moves from the position shown in Fig. 11

to that shown in Fig. 12, the sweep arm moves in a circular path in a horizontal plane below the temporary clamp C and main clamp B and gathers in the running yarn, for example, the portion a2 of the running yarn a, as shown in Fig. 11, and moves it into the channel |22 of the temporary clamp C, the channel 99 of the main clamp B, vand the channel |09 of the auxiliary to the main clamp formed Iby the plates 82 and 83.

The control linger of the newly selected yarn, for example, during the gathering in of the portion a2 of the running yarn a, has moved into its position shown in Fig. 12. During its movement from the position in Fig. 11 to its position in Fig. 12, the barb I2 on the finger 3 has picked up the portion ci of the yarn c and held it out of reach of the sweep arm |80 so that it would not be delivered into the clamp channels noted above with the portions a2, b2, c2, d2 andeZ of the yarns a, b, c, d and e.

In the meantime, the portion c2 of the selected yarn c, and the portion a2 of the running yarn a have been carried by the finger 3 into the throat of the beak |40 and the open pincher |50 as shown in Fig. 12.

The knotter shaft 86 is then operated to rotate the beak |40 and cause the pincher |50 to move the two yarns forwardly (see Fig. 13). As the shaft 86 rotates to effect this motion the pin 95 on the plate 63 moves away from the arm |21 of the temporary clamp C and the spring |28 rocks the lever |2| to cause the edge |23 thereof to grip the running yarn a against the flange |24 of the fixed plate I5.

At the same time the pin |5419 operating in the cam slot |66 moves the blade |54 outwardly to grip the` two yarns a and c in the pincher |56.

The above noted rotation of the shaft 86 turns the beak shaft |35 and the beak |40 therewith. The heel and toe of therockablejaw |4| of the beak |46 riding on the cam |45 closes the jaws of the beak as the loop L of the knot is formed around the rotating beak, just after the elements assume the positions shown in Fig. 14.

As the jaws of the beak close on and grip the two yarn portions a2 and c2, the two yarns are severed below the beak |40 by a revolving shear S and the ends` of the two yarns are drawn through the loop L.

At thesame time, with the beak revolving rearwardly over the top, as viewed in Fig. 14, the pincher |50,\which is still gripping the yarn portions dZ, c2, above the loop L, .moves forwardly and pulls the loop off the beak and then pulls the loop into a tight knot.

The beak |40 and the pincher |50 are then opened to release the yarns and the newly select ed yarn crtied to the former running yarn ci supplants the yarn a as the running yarn.

The finger 3, then returns to its normal position and the spring 49 (see Fig. l) returns the earn plate 46 to shift the entire group A of fingers I, 2, 3, 4, 5 until the gear I 4 of the finger is again aligned with the operating gear' 20.

The roller on the lever to which the link 52 is attached in the metantime has ridden off the link of the pattern chain which had selected the yarn c. The cam surface 69 has also dislodged the pawl- 68 from the shoulder 11 of the power lever 18 and a lug 18a on this lever has engaged a set screw 65a, on the lever 85 to move the rack 21 downwardly under positive motion to return the nger 3 to its normal position with the newly selected yarn c running from the eye of the nger 3 to the eye E in the actuating lever |15 of the knotter K.

The sweep arm |80 has moved to its outer position shown in Fig. 12 and as the nger 3 returns to its normal position the new running yarn c is guided into the arc of embrace of the sweep arm |80 by a fixed guide wire |8| secured at one end to the platform 92 of the frame F.

The sweep arm |80 is pivoted at |82 to the underside of the platform 92 and is provided with a radial slot |83 (see Fig. 5). The slot |83 embraces a pin |84 (see also Fig. 7) which projects upwardly from a bracket |85 which is secured to a horizontal rod |85. The rod .|86 is slidably mounted in the vertical extension 23 of the frame F and is provided with a pin |81 riding in a cam slot |88 formed in a curved cam plate |89 secured to the gear 25. The gear 25 is provided with an arcuate slot |9| through which the rod |88 passes.

The actuating lever |15 of the knotter K is operated by a lever |92, which is secured to a vertical shaft |93, through a pin |94 on the lever |15 operating in a slot |05 formed in the lever |02.

The upper end of the shaft |93 is journaled in a bearing |98 formed on or carried by the frame F, and at its lower end in a bearing formed in the base plate 200 of the machine to which the frame F is secured.

Below the bed plate 200 the shaft |93 is provided with a horizontal lever 20| (see Fig. 1 and Fig. 1a). The outer end of the lever 20| has a roller 202 thereon for contact by a cam 203 for rocking the lever 20| in one direction and a cam 204 for rocking the lever in the opposite direction to oscillate the shaft |93 and the knotter shaft 86 to effect operation of the knotter K in the manner previously described.

The cams 203 and 204 (see Fig. 3) are secured to the constantly rotating shaft S4 on which is also secured the eccentric 03, as previously noted. To prevent actuation of the shaft |03, except at the time a selection of yarns and the knotting operation is taking place, the shaft |93 (see Fig. 2'1) is provided with a collar 205 which is engaged on its under side by the outer end of a short arm 208. The arm 206 is secured to the shaft 26 on which the gear 25 is also secured. Consequently, when the gear 25 is turned in one direction to actuate one of the fingers 2, 3, 4 or 5, the arm 208 is turned to lower the shaft |93, and the lever 20|, .under the action of a spring 201 (see Fig. 1) to drop the roller 202 of the lever 20| into the paths of rotation of the cams 203 and 204 to operate the knotter K.

When the gear 25 is turned in the opposite direction to return the finger 2, 3, 4 or 5 as the case may be, to its normal position, the arm 20B, operating against the underside of the co1- lar 205, raises the roller 202 out of the paths of rotation of the cams 203 and 204.

The shear S (see Figs. 4, 14 and 15) comprises an upper blade 2|0 which revolves on a stud 2|| projecting upwardly from the platform 92 (see Fig. 3), and a blade 2| 2 which is pivoted at 2|3 to the blade 2|0. The blade 2|2 is provided with a roller 2|4 (see Fig. 15) which rides in a cam groove 2|5 formed in a disc 2 I8 which is secured to the platform 92.

A pinion 2|1 is secured to the blade 2|0 (see Figs. 3 and 4) and intermeshes with a gear segment 2 I8 which oscillates on a post 2|9 projecting upwardly from the platform 92. Screws 220, 220. carried by the segment 2| 8 and adapted to engage a post 22| limit the rocking motion of the segment 2 I8 and consequently the rotation of the shear blades 2|0 and 2|2 relative to the cam disc 2|6.

A link 222 pivotally connected at 223 to the knotter operating lever |15 and at 224 to the segment 2|8 eiects operation of the shear S in coordination with the knotter K as noted above. As the pinion 2 |1 rotates the constant blade 2 |0 .and the movable blade 2|2, the roller 2|4 operating in the groove 2|5 rocks the blade 2|2 at the proper time to snip the two yarns gripped by the beak |40 just before the beak pulls the gripped parts of the two yarns through the loop L.

After the sweep arm has carried the running yarn into the yarn channels |22, 99 and |00, and the control finger of the newly selected yarn moves from the position shown in Fig. 11 to that shown in Fig. 12 wherein the part c2 of the newly selected yarn extends upwardly from the clamp B to the eye substantially parallel to the part a2 of the running yarn, the shaft 86 of the knotter K begins to turn in the direction of the arrow y (see Fig. 16). The plate 83 turns correspondingly, causing the pin to release the lever |2| of the temporary clamp C. The pin 95 then engages the end 9117 of the plate 8| of the main clamp B, turning this plate and releasing the idle yarns from the serrations |00 of the fixed clamp plate 80. At the saine time the back edges 80a and 8 la of the main clamp and the auxiliary clamp, the latter being formed by the plates 82 and 83,v move outwardly against the running thread, which has just been placed in the above noted channels by the sweep arm |80, and the part of the newly selected yarn which has been raised by itsI control finger. This action causes these yarns to be pressed against the arm |06 of the xed plate and to be snubbed around the edge |01 of the arm |08, to apply a holding force to these yarns, in addition to the grip of the temporary clamp C, while the beak |40 is forming the loop L.

The platesy 83 and 82 continue to move outwardly and force the two yarns against the shoulders |03 and ||0 of the fixed plates 80 and 82 respectively. The two yarns then snap around the ends of the hooks |04 and |2 of the plates 8| and 83 respectively into the fronts of said hooks to be engaged by the curved edges |05 and l i3. thereof, upon reverse rotation of the shaft 88.

The shear S, during the above action, has cut the former running yarn and that part of the newly selected yarn which had been carried up by the control finger, at the knot. This leaves a loose piece of the newly selected yarn, which is wiped away from the clamps etc. by the plate 83, as the shaft 86 moves in said reverse motion of the shaft 86.

As the plate 83 receives its motion, by said reverse motion of the shaft 86, the-pin 95 thereon engages the end 91a of the clamp plate 8|, causing the forward edge |05 of the hook |04 to wipe the ends of the idle threads, including the former 75 running yarn, overthe s'e'rrations |00 of the fixed plate 80. l

As the plate 83 approaches the limit of its motion under said reverse rotation of the shaft 86 the pin engages the arm |21 of the temporary clamp C and releases the grip of said clamp C from the idle threads in the channel |22'` (see Fig. 16).

The device is then ready for a new selection -ofyarn by one of the high links of the pattern chain which controls the actuation of the link 52 (Fig. 1) and consequently the selector cam 48.

It will be noted that each .of the steps 45a, 45h, 45o, 45d and 45e in the cam slot 45 of the cam 46 includes a dwell space 45', concentric to the axis of rotation of the cam 46 which prevents sliding motion of the group A of ngers by vibra-` tion of the machine which might cause the cam i6 to oscillate slightly while holding the gear I4 of a selected ringer in mesh with `the operating gear 20.

It will be further noted that the yarn channel 99 of the main clamp B, the yarn channel |22 of the temporary clamp C, the yarn channel |64 of the pincher |50, the throat |65 of the knotter beak |40, the running yarn guideE, and the operating gear 2li for the fingers 2, 3, 4 and 5, lie substantially in a common vertical plane P-P (see Figs. 1, 4, 5, 16) that the arc traversed by the bite of the open `shear blades ZIB, 2|2 is substantially tangent to said plane P-P; that the steps 45a, 45h, 45o, 45d and 45e of the cam plate 46 move the group A of ngers 2, 3, 4 and 5, bodily, axially of their common pivot I6, variable distances respectively, to bring the gears` I4 of said fingers, and the iingers, selectively into the plane P-P, to effect operating alignment of the gear |4 of the selected nnger I, 2, 3, 4, 5, as the ease may be, with the operating gear 2|! which rotates in the plane P-P; and that the selected` nger, with its eye and collectornotch Ill, when actuated by the single actuating gear 20, rocks in the plane P-P` to carry the selected yarn and the running yarn into the above noted channels in the plane P-P.

I claim:

l. A yarn changer comprising a group of yarncontrol elements arranged side by side, a single actuator for operating a-single element of said group, and means for laterally shifting said group bodily with respect to said actuator to effect selective alignment of a single element of the group with said actuator.

2` A yarn changer comprising a group of yarncontrol elements arranged side by side, a single actuator for operating a single element of said group, means for laterally shifting said group bodily with respect to said actuator to eiiect selective alignment of a single element of the group with said actuator, and means for locking said group of elements against independent operation during said bodily shifting of the group.

3. A yarn changer comprising a group of yarncontrol elements arranged side by side, a single actuator for operating a single element of said group, means for laterally shifting said group bodily with respect to said actuator to effect selective alignment of a single element of the group with said actuator, means for operating said actuator to effect independent yarn manipulating motion of the element aligned with said actuator, and means for locking the remaining elements of the group against yarn kmanipulating motion during said independent manipulating motion of the single selected element.

4. ,A yarn changer comprising a group of yarn-control elements arranged side by side, a single actuator for operating `a single element of said group, means for Vlaterally shifting said group bodily with respect to said actuator to effect selective alignment of a single element of the group with said actuator, a clamp provided with a channel for receiving yarns extending from eyes in said elements respectively, and a sweep arm adapted to embrace and carry said extending yarns into said clamp channel.

5. A yarn. changer comprising a group oi' yarn-control elements arranged side by side, a single actuator for operating a single element of said group, means for laterally shifting said group` to effect selective alignment of a single element of the group with said actuator, a clamp provided with a channel for receiving yarns extending from yarn eyes on said elements respectively, a yarn guiding eye for passage ofthe yarn from the yarn eye of one of said elements which is free from said clamp, a sweep arm adapted to embrace said free yarn and carry it into said channel, a yarn collector on each of said elements for engaging said free yarn between said yarn guiding eye and said clamp channel, a knot tying device having a yarn throat between said clamp channel and the path of movement of the yarn collector and yarn eye of the selected element for receiving said free yarn and the yarn-controlled bysaid selected elementand means for operating said selected element through said actuator.

6. A yarn changer comprising a group of yarn-control elements arranged side by side, a single actuator for operating a single element of said group, means for laterally shifting said group to effect selective alignment of a single element of the group with said actuator, a clamp provided with a channel for receiving yarns extending from, yarn eyes on said elements respectively, a yarn guiding eye for passage of the yarn from the yarn eye of one of said elements which is free from said clamp, a sweep arm adapted to embrace said free yarn and carry it into said channel, a yarn collector on each of said elements for engaging said free yarn between. said yarn guiding eye and said clamp channel, a knot tying device having a yarn throat between said clamp channel and the path of movement of the yarn collector and yarn eye of the selected element for receiving said free yarn and the yarn controlled by said selected element, a yarn pincher operable between said throat and said yarn guiding eye for receiving said free and selected yarns, means for operating said knot tying device and said pincher, and means for operating said selected element through said actuator.

7. A yarn changer .comprising a group of yarn-control elements arranged side by side, a single actuator for operating a single element of said group, means for laterally shifting said group to effect selective alignment of a single element of the group with said actuator, a clamp provided with a channel for receiving yarns extending from yarn eyes on said elements respectively, a yarn guiding eye for passage of the yarn from the yarn eye of one of said elements which is free from said clamp, a sweep arm adapted to embrace said free yarn and carry it into said channel, a yarn collector on each of said elements for engaging said free yarn between said yarn guiding eye and said clamp channel, a knot tying device having a yarn throat between said clamp channel and the path of movement of the yarn collector and yarn eye of the selected element for receiving said free yarn and the yarn controlled by said selected element, a yarn pincher operable between said throat and said yarn guiding eye for receiving said free and selected yarns, a shear operating between said knot tying device and said clamp for severing said free and selected yarns adjacent said knot tying device subsequent to knotting the tWo yarns together, means for operating said knot tying device, said pincher, said clamp and said shear, and means for operating said selected element through said actuator in timed relation one to the other.

8. A yarn changer comprising a group of yarn control elements arranged side by side, a yarn clamp provided with a yarn receiving channel, a yarn guiding eye spaced from said clamp substantially in a common plane with the yarn receiving mouth of said channel, a yarn knotter including a knotting beak having a throat substantially in said common plane intermediate said eye and said channel mouth, a yarn eye on each control element, a yarn collector on each control element adjacent the yarn eye thereof, means for bodily shifting said group laterally and with respect to said common plane for selectively aligning the yarn eye and yarn collector of one of said elements with said common plane, and means for operating the selected element with its yarn eye and yarn collector moving in said common plane to carry a predetermined pair of yarns respectively controlled by said elements into said throat.

9. A yarn changer comprising a group of yarn control elements arranged side by side, a yarn clamp provided with a yarn receiving channel, a yarn guiding eyespaced from said clamp substantially in a common plane with the yarn receiving mouth of said channel, a yarn knotter including a knotting beak having a throat substantially in said common plane intermediate said eye and said channel mouth, a yarn eye on each control element, a yarn collector on each control element adjacent the yarn eye thereof, means for bodily shifting said group laterally and with respect to said common plane for selectively aligning the yarn eye and yarn collector of one of said elements with said common plane, means for operating the selected element with its yarn eye and yarn collector moving in said common plane to carry a predetermined pair of yarns respectively controlled by said elements into said throat, and a sweep arm operable in a p-lane intersecting said common plane in advance of said operation of said selected yarn control element for moving one yarn of said pair into the channel of said clamp prior to knotting.

10. A yarn changer comprising a group of yarn control elements arranged side by side, a yarn clamp Dlfovided with a yarn receiving channel, a yarn guiding eye spaced from said clamp substantially in a common plane with the yarn receiving mouth of said channel, a yarn knotter including a knotting beak having a throat substantially in said common plane intermediate said eye and said channel mouth, a yarn pincher intermediate said yarn guiding eye and said knotting beak and having a yarn channel in said common plane, a yarn eye on each control element,A a yarn collector on each control element adjacent the yarn eye thereof, means for bodily shifting said group laterally and with respect to said common plane for selectively aligning the yarn eye and yarn collector of one of said elements with said common plane, and means for operating the selected element with its yarn eye and yarn collector moving in said common plane to carry a predetermined pair of yarns respectively controlled by said elements into said throat and into said channel of said pincher.

11. A yarn changer comprising a group of yarn control elements arranged side by side, a yarn clamp provided with a yarn receiving channel, a yarn guiding eye spaced from said clamp substantially in a common plane with the yarn receiving mouth -of said channel, a yarn knotter including a knotting beak having a throat substantially in said common plane intermediate said eye and said channel mouth, a yarn pincher intermediate said yarn guiding eye and said knotting beak and having a yarn channel in said common plane, a yarn eye on each control element, a yarn collector on each control element adjacent the yarn eye thereof, means for bodily shifting said group laterally and with respect to said common plane for selectively aligning the yarn eye and yarn collector of one of said elements With said common plane, means for operating the selected element With its yarn eye and yarn collector moving in said common plane to carry a predetermined pair of yarns respectively controlled by said elements into said throat and into said channel of said pincher, and a sweep arm operable in a plane intersecting said common plane in advance of said operation of said selected yarn control element for moving one yarn of said pair into the channel of said clamp prior to knotting.

12. A yarn changer comprising a group of yarn control elements arranged side by side, a yarn clamp provided with a yarn receiving channel, a yarn guiding eye spaced from said clamp substantially in a common plane with the yarn receiving mouth of said channel, a yarn knotter including a knotting beak having a throat substantially in said common plane intermediate said eye and said channel mouth, a yarn eye on each control element, a yarn collector on each control element adjacent the yarn eye thereof, means for bodily shifting said group laterally and with respect to said common plane for selectively aligning the yarn eye and yarn collector of one of said elements with said common plane, means i'or operating the selected element with its yarn eye and yarn collector moving in said common plane to carry a predetermined pair of yarns respectively controlled by said elements into said throat, a sweep arm operable in a plane intersecting said common plane in advance of said operation of said selected yarn control element for moving one yarn of said pair into the channel of said clamp prior to knotting, and means on each yarn control element remote to the yarn eye and yarn collector thereof for engaging the yarn controlled thereby when selected and operating in said common plane to retain the selected yarn out of reach of said sweep arm.

13. A yarn changer comprising a group of yarn control elements` arranged side by side, a yarn clamp provided with a yarn receiving channel, a yarn guiding eye spaced from said clamp substantially in a common plane with the yarn receiving mouth of said channel, a yarn knotter including a knotting beak having a throat subllo stantially in said common plane intermediate said eye and said channel mouth, a yarn eye on each control element, a yarn collector on each control element adjacent the yarn eye thereof, a single actuator in said common plane for operating a single element of said group, and means for laterally lshifting said group bodily with respect to said plane to effect selective alignment of a single element of the group with said conimon plane.

14. A yarn changer comprising a group of yarn control elements arranged side by side, a yarn clamp provided with a yarn receiving channel, a yarn guiding eye spaced from said clamp substantially in a common plane with the yarn receiving mouth of said channel, a yarn lrnottery including a knotting beak having a throat substantially in said common plane intermediate said eye and said channel mouth, a yarn eye on each control element, a yarn collector on each control element adjacent the yarn eye thereof, a single actuator in said common plane for operating a single element of said group, means for laterally shifting said group bodily with respect to said plane to effect selective alignment of a single element of the group with said common plane, and means for operating the aligned element in said common plane through said sin gle actuator aligned therewith.

15. A yarn changer comprising a group of yarn control elements arranged side by side, a common support for said group, a single actuator for .a single element of said group, a cam lor shifting said comlnonsupport and said group of elements therewith laterally with respect to said single actuator to effect selective alignment of any single one of said elements with said acy tuator.

16. A yarn changer comprising a group of yarn control elements arranged side by side, a common support for said group, a single actuator for a single element of said group, a cam for shifting said common support and said group of elements therewith laterally with respect to said single actuator to effect selective alignment of any single one of said elements with said actuator, said cam including a step for each element on the common support and progressively inclining paths from each to the next step to carry said elements successively past said single actuator, a cam follower connected to said common support for engagement with said cam steps and the inclines therebetween, and a dwell at each step affording predetermined motion of the cam without operation of said cam follower and the common support connected thereto.

17. A yarn changer comprising a group of independently swngable yarn control lingers, a common pivotv for said group, a single actuator for a single linger of said group, and means for shifting said group bodily to variable extents axially of said pivot to align said fingers selectively with said actuator.

18. A yarn changerV comprising a group of arcuate independently swingable yarn control lingers, a hub gear on one end of each linger, a common pivot for the hub gears of the group, an actuating gear adapted to intermesh with one of said hub gears, and means for shifting said group bodily to variable extents axially of said common pivot relative to said actuating gear to align said hub gears selectively with said actuating gear.

19. A yarn changer comprising a group of arcuate independently swingable yarn control lingers,

a hub gear on one end of each linger, a common to variable extents axially of said common pivot relative to said actuating gear to align said hub gears selectively with said actuating gear, and an elongated locking gear member aligned 1ongitudinally with said actuating gear and normally intermeshing with the hub gears of said group unaligned with said actuator gear.

20. A yarn changer comprising a group of arcuate independently swingable yarn control lingers, a hub gear on one end of each linger, a common pivot for the hub gears of the group, an actuating gear adapted to intermesh with one of said hub gears, means for shifting said group bodily to variable extents axially of said common pivot relative` to said actuating gear to align said hub gears selectively with said actuating gear, and an elongated locking gear member at each end of and aligned longitudinally with said actuating gear `and adapted to intermesh with the hub gears of said group unaligned with said actuator gear.

2l. A yarn changer comprising a group of arcuate independently svvingable yarn control 1ingers each including a pivot at one end and a yarn collector at the opposite end with a yarn eye adjacent` said collector, means for swinging said lingers selectively about their respective pivots, a yarn channel for receiving yarns passing through said yarn eyes respectively, and a sweep arm operable in a plane intersecting the paths of swing of said lingers for presenting said yarns to said channel.

22. A yarn changer comprising a group of arcuate independently swingable yarn control lingers each including a pivot at one end and a yarn collector at the opposite end with a yarn eye adjacent said collector, means for swinging said lingers selectively about their respective pivots, a yarn channel for receiving yarns passing through said yarn eyes respectively, a sweep arm operable in a plane intersecting the paths of swing of said fingers lor presenting said yarns to said channel, and a lateral projection on each linger intermediate its opposite ends to engage the yarn controlled thereby and hold it out of the path of said sweep arm during swinging motion of said linger.

23. A yarn changer comprising a group of independently swingable yarn control lingers, a common pivot for said group, a group of gears on said common pivot and respectively secured to said lingers, a single actuating gear for cooperation with the gear of a single linger, a sweep arm operable in a plane intersecting the paths of swing of said lingers, means for shifting said group of lingers bodily in a direction axially of said common pivot` for effecting selective intermeshing of said linger gears with said single actuating gear, a driving gear for operating said single actuating gear, and a cam on said driving gear for actuating said sweep arm in advance of the selected yarn linger.

tween saidin'ain blade and said disc to ro'ck'said auxiliary blade on said main blade in a shearing action.

25. In a yarn changer, means for lniottingI two yarns together, a yarn pincher cooperating with said knotting meansior pulling the knot tight, said pincher comprising a pair of blades freely rotatable about a common axis, an intermediate blade freely rotatable about and slidable radially with respect'to said axis between said pair of blades, a guide for said three blades freely rotatable about said axis `provided with spaced elements engaging the opposite side edges 'of said three bla-des to maintain parallelism therebetween, an actuating arm rockable by power about said axis, a xed cam adjacent said axis, la lever pivoted intermediate its opposite ends to said actuating arm, a pin on one lend of said lever operating in a radial slot in said guide, a cam followerl on the opposite end of said lever riding a groove in said cam for producing irregular rotation 'of said pincher blades about said axis, a pin on said intermediate blade, and a second xed cam engaging said pin-for effecting radial movement of said intermediate blade duringsaid irregular rotation of said pincher.

26. In a yarn changer, means for knott'ing two yarns of a series together, means for cutting said yarns adjacent the knots, and a clamp for the freed ends of said yarns comprising a series of alternately iixed and rotary parallel plates, an operating shaft secured to one of said rotary plates, a pin on said one rotary plate passing into a short arcuate slot in another of said rotary plates to produce delayed rotation of the latter with respect to initial rotation of the former, and radial extensions on said rotary plates cooperating with predetermined portions on said fixed plates to grip said yarn ends therebetween.

2'?, In a yarn changer, means for knotting two yarns of a series together, means for cutting said yarns adjacent the knots, and a main clamp for the freed ends of said yarns comprising a series of alternately iiXed and rotary parallel plates, an operating shaft secured to one ofsaid rotary plates, a pin on said one rotary plate passing into Va short arcuate slot in another of said 'rotary said pin to release said secondary clamp during gripping of the yarns by said main clamp.

28. In a yarn changer, means for knotting two yarns of a series together, means for cutting said yarns adjacent the knots, and a main clamp for the freed ends of said yarns comprising a series of alternately iixed and rotary parallel plates, an operating shaft secured to one of said rotary plates, a pin on said one rotary plate passing into a short arcuate slot in another of said rotary plates to produce delayed rotation of the latter with respect to initial rotation of the former, yarn channels formed in said stationary plates to receive said yarns, shoulders formed in said channels to prevent escape of said yarns from said channels, radial extensions on said rotary plates movable across said channels to en gage said lyarns and cooperating with predeter mined portions on said fixed plates to grip said yarn ends therebetween, a second clamp comprising a xed plate and a movable plate pivoted thereto, a projection on said movable plate cooperating with a projection On said xed plate to grip said yarns therebetween, and an arm on said movable plate operable by said pin to release said secondary clamp during gripping of the yarns by said main clamp.

29. In a yarn changer, means for knotting two yarns of a series together, means for cutting said yarns adjacent the knots, and a main clamp for the freed ends of said yarns comprising a series of alternately xed and rotary parallel plates, an operating shaft secured to one of said rotary plates, a pin on said one rotary plate passing into ashort arcuate slot in another of said rotary plates to produce delayed rotation of the latter with respect to initial rotation of the former, yarn channels formed in said stationary plates to receive said yarns, shoulders formed in said channels to prevent escape of said yarns from said channels, radial extensions on said rotary plates movable across said channels to engage said yarns and cooperating with predetermined portions on said xed plates to grip said yarn ends therebetween, a second clamp comprising a fixed plate and a movable plate pivoted thereto, a projection on said movable plate cooperating with a projection on said fixed plate to grip said yarns therebetween, and an arm on said movable plate operable by said pin to release said secondary clamp during gripping of the yarns by said main clamp, said projections when separated to release said yarns forming a channel to receive'said yarns in alignment with the yarn channels of said main clamp.

WALTER LARKIN. 

